Folding device

ABSTRACT

A device for folding sheets into a pleated condition and transferring the sheets to a conveyor. A platen has a plurality of plates movable through slots formed in a platform for receiving a stack of flat sheets. Subsequent to the movement of the platen into the slots, the platen is moved lengthwise through the slots forcing the pleated sheets therefrom and into a compartment of a conveyor carrying tray. The platen is then raised from the conveyor carrying tray and returned to the original position. Finger-like members are secured to the plates for engaging the edges of the pleated sheets for the transverse movement of the pleated sheets to the compartment of the conveyor carrying tray. A pair of cylinder motors are mounted to the frame of the folding device to controllably move the platen.

United States Patent Crenshaw, Jr.

FOLDING DEVICE Appl. No.: 194,175

v[ Mar. 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-Robcrt W. Michell Assistant Examiner-A. J. Heinz Attorney, Agent. or FirmWoodard Weikart. Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT A device for folding sheets into a pleated condition and transferring the sheets to a conveyor; A platen has a plurality of plates movable through slots formed in a hgg lggg platform for receiving a stack of flat sheets. Subse- 58 Field of seahi "256/57 79 83-85- qheht 9 the mevemeht the plate the slots F 223/3O 31 93784 platen 1S moved lengthwise through the slotsforcing the pleated sheets therefrom and into a compartment [56] References Cited of a conveyor carrying tray. The platen is then raised from the conveyor carrying tray and returned to the UNITED STATES PATENTS original position. Finger-like members are secured to 3.287.011 11/1966 Currie 271/12 the plates for engaging the edges of the pleated sheets 1094415 9/1937 Schwartz 270/94 for the transverse movement of the pleated sheets to 3391923 7/l968 Kohlmeyerw 270/84 the compartment of the conveyor carrying tray. A pair 3.465.492 9/1969 Jensen 270/84 of cylinder motors are mounted to the frame of the folding device to controllably move the platen.

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WELLEM N. CRENSHAW E.

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WILLJAM N. CRENSHAW,JR. I BY flaw, /M, WmYS PATENTEMAMQ x974 3.797.821

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WILLIAM N. CRENSHAW, JRO

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WILLIAM N. @RENSHAW, JR.

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'WELLIAM N. CRENSHAW, J.

fi M J/CUQM 7 ATTQRNEYS FOLDING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of folding devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many items in sheet form, such as plastic bags, are packaged in containers in a pleated condition. An apparatus for pleating paper is disclosed in the U. S. Pat. No. 3,391,923 issued to W. F. Kohlmeyer. An apparatus for forming pleats in the filter is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,138,077 issued to C. J. Bauder. Two other devices which form pleats are disclosed in the U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,589,792 issued to J; J. Frank and 2,697,970 issued to M. J. G. Tipper. None of these devices both fold the sheets into a pleated condition and then convey the pleated sheets to a conveyor positioned at another location. The folding device disclosed herein will both pleat the sheets as well as transfer the pleated sheets to a conveyor. Means are also provided whereby the sheets are stacked in a squared condition so as to insure uniform pleating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is a device for folding flat sheets comprising a frame,'a platform for receiving the flat sheets and having parallel slots, spaced apart members suspendedly mounted on the frame over the platform, first means connected to the members being operable to force the members against the flat sheets and into the slots folding the flat sheets into pleated sheets, and, second means connected to the members being operable to move the members lengthwise through the slots forcing the pleated sheets therefrom.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding device for pleating sheets and then transferring the pleated sheets to another location.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved folding device.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of a folding device incorporating the present invention with upper platen 30 shown in the retracted position and sheets 16 in the unfolded position.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of arrows 22.

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 1 only showing upper platen 30 in the downward position thereby folding sheets 16.

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 2 only showing upper platen 30 positioned adjacent conveyor 50.

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 only showing upper platen 30 positioned above conveyor 50.

DESCRIPTION OFv THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It

will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a folding device 15 for folding flat sheets 16 into a pleated condition (FIG. 3) and then transferring the pleated sheet to a conveyor 50 (FIG. 4). Folding device 15 has a frame composed of a table 17, an upwardly extending wall 17 and a top platform 39 (FIG. 2). A plurality of legs 20 support table 17 upon which platform 19 is mounted. Platform 19 has a left plate 21, as

viewed in FIG. 1, and a right plate 22 both of which are mounted atop legs 18. A channel assembly 23 is positioned between plates 21 and 22 forming slots 27, 28, and 29. Plates 21 and 22 form a horizontal surface for supporting the stack of flat sheets 16. Channel assembly 23 is mounted atop table 17 and is a part of platform 19. A pair of vertically spaced walls 24 and 25 are secured respectively to plates 21 and 22 extending downwardly therefrom to table 17 Channel assembly 23 also has a pair of dividing walls 26 positioned between walls 24 and 25 to form channels 27 through 29. Channel assembly 23 may be formed in an integral piece or may be composed of a plurality of parallel walls secured together by conventional fastening devices.

Three spaced apart plates 31, 32 and 33 are suspendedly mounted to upper platform 39 and are positionable over platform 19. The parallel slots 27 through 29 receive plates 31 through 33 when the plates are in the downward position as shown in FIG. 3. Plates 31 through 33 and walls 24 through 26 cooperatively fold the stack of flat sheets 16 into pleated sheets as shown in FIG. 3. Plates 31 through 33 form platen 30 which is slidably mounted to holder 34. The upper proximal ends of plates 31 through 33 are fixedly connected together to a tongue 44 (FIG. 3) which is slidably received in a groove 45 formed by brackets 46 and 47 fixedly mounted to holder 34. Holder 34 is fixedly connected to a pair of bearing cylinders 35 and 36 (FIG. 1) which are slidably mounted to a pair of vertical bearing rods 37 and 38 mounted atop table 17.

Two cylinder motors 40 and 60 are provided to respectively move plates 31 through 33 in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction to fold the flat sheets and convey the sheets to conveyor 50. Cylinder motor 40 is fixedly mounted atop upper platform 39 of the frame and has a downwardly extending piston rod 41 connected to plate holder 34. Thus, by extending rod 41, plates 31 through 33 are caused to move downwardly whereas by retracting piston rod 41, plates 31 through 33 are caused to move upwardly. A second cylinder motor 60 is mounted to and beneath holder 34 having an extendable piston rod 61 (FIG. 4) connected to plates 31 through 33. By extending piston rod 61, the plates are forced to the left as viewed in FIG. 4 whereas retraction of the piston rod causes the plates to move rightwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Conveyor 50 has a frame 57 (FIG. 1) with a carrying tray 54 movably mounted in a horizontal direction thereto. Tray 54 has a plurality of upstanding walls 55 forming a plurality of compartments 56 each of which 52 mounted to frame 57. A conventional chain motor 53 is also mounted to frame 57 for driving the chain in such a manner so as to force the carrying tray past the slots of channel assembly 23.

To operate folding device 15, platen 30 is located in the upward position as shown in FIG. 1. Sheets 16 are then placed atop platform 19 either manually or by a suitable feeding system. For example, another apparatus, not shown, may produce plastic bags and then feed the bags in a stacked condition to device 19 for the pleating thereof. Walls 57 and 58 are fixedly secured to platform 19 and extend above the surface formed by plates 21 and 22 which receives sheets 16. Plate 57 is oriented at a right angle with respect to plate 58 to facilitate square stacking of the sheets. That is, when the sheets are positioned adjacent walls 57 and 58, the sheets will automatically be positioned in a square stack. Wall 58 is slotted adjacent channel assembly 23 to allow plates 31 through 33 to pass through from the slots of channel assembly 23 to the compartments of conveyor 50. Subsequent to the stacking of sheets 16, the platen 30 is caused to move downwardly by activation of cylinder motor 40. Cylinder motor 40 may be either pneumatically driven or hydraulically driven. Motor 40 is operated to force plates 31 and 33 into slots 27 through 29 to fold the flat sheets into pleated sheets as shown in FIG. 3. Next, platen 30 is moved from the channel assembly 23 shown in FIG. 3 to a position adjacent conveyor 50 as shown in FIG. 4 thereby forcing the pleated sheets from channel assembly 23 to the compartment of conveyor 50 aligned with the channel assembly. The plates move lengthwise through slots 27 through 29 so as to force the pleated sheets therefrom. Each plate 31 through 33 has a finger-like member 42 mounted transversely thereto which extends downwardly below the plates engaging the edges of the pleated sheets as the plates move lengthwise through the slots. Holder 34 is provided with a groove 45 (FIG. 3) which extends from above platform 19 to above conveyor 50. Tongue 44 which is fastened to the upper ends of plates 31 through 33 is movably mounted in a horizontal direction to holder 34 and is slidable in groove 45. Conveyor 50 is timed by suitable means so as to align a compartment 56 with the slots of channel assembly 23 to receive the pleated sheets. After the pleated sheets have been positioned in thecompartment, platen 30 is moved in the upward direction by retracting the piston rod of cylinder motor 40 (FIG. Next, platen 30 is caused to move to a position over platform 19 (FIG. 2) by retracting the piston rod of cylinder motor 60. A conventional limit switch 63 (FIG. 2) is mounted to bracket 62 fastened to carrier 34 so as to measure the leftward movement of platen 30. For example, when platen 30 reaches a position above conveyor 50 as shown in FIG. 5, limit switch 63 closes thereby deactivating cylinder motor 60. Conventional limit switches are positioned in order locations to limit the movement of platen 30 and control cylinder motors 40 and 60.

It will be obvious from the above description that the present invention provides a folding device for folding a stack of flat sheets into a pleated condition and then transferring the pleated sheets to another location. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A device for folding flat sheets comprising:

a frame;

a platform connected to said frame having a flat surface for receiving said flat sheets and having parallel slots in said surface;

spaced apart members suspendedly mounted on said frame over said platform for reciprocal vertical movement into and out of said slots;

first means connected to said members being operable to force said members in a downward direction against said flat sheets and into said slots folding said flat sheets into pleated sheets; and,

second means connected to said members being operable to move said members with respect to said frame while positioned in said slots parallel along said slots thereby forcing said pleated sheets from said platform to a remote location; and,

conveyor means with compartments positioned beneath said members at said remote location, said conveyor means operable to move said compartments to a position to receive said pleated sheets forced from said slots by said second means;

said flat surface being substantially horizontal, said slots being defined by spaced apart walls extending downwardly from said surface, said spaced apart members are plates which fit between said walls to cooperatively fold said flat sheets into pleated sheets, said plates are movably mounted on said frame in a horizontal direction;

said plates have finger-like elements mounted thereto which extend downwardly below said plates and said pleated sheets, said second means being operable to push said pleated sheets with said finger-like elements in said horizontal direction which is perpendicular to said downward direction from said platform into one of said compartments.

2. A device for folding flat sheets comprising:

a frame;

a platform connected to said frame having a flat surface for receiving said flat sheets and having parallel slots in said surface;

spaced apart members suspendedly mounted on said frame over said platform for reciprocal movement into and out of said slots;

first means connected to said members being operable to force said members against said flat sheets and into said slots folding said flat sheets into pleated sheets; and,

second means connected to said members being operable to move said members while positioned in said slots parallel along said slots thereby forcing said pleated sheets from said platform to a remote location;

a plate holder movably mounted in a vertical direction to said frame, said plate holder having said plates mounted thereon; and wherein:

said first means is a cylinder mounted to said frame, said cylinder has a piston rod connected to said holder, said piston rod being extendable to move said plate holder and said plates with respect to said platform;

said plates are movably mounted in a horizontal direction to said holder; and,

said second means is a second cylinder mounted to said holder, said second cylinder has an extendable piston rod connected to said plates for moving said plates with respect to said holder.

3. The device of claim 2 and further comprising:

a conveyor having a carrying tray movably mounted in a horizontal direction with said carrying tray having compartments to receive said pleated sheets from said slots.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein:

said platform has a horizontal surface, and a first wall and a second wall extending upwardly from said horizontal surface, said first wall is arranged at a ing said rods. 

1. A device for folding flat sheets comprising: a frame; a platform connected to said frame having a flat surface for receiving said flat sheets and having parallel slots in said surface; spaced apart members suspendedly mounted on said frame over said platform for reciprocal vertical movement into and out of sAid slots; first means connected to said members being operable to force said members in a downward direction against said flat sheets and into said slots folding said flat sheets into pleated sheets; and, second means connected to said members being operable to move said members with respect to said frame while positioned in said slots parallel along said slots thereby forcing said pleated sheets from said platform to a remote location; and, conveyor means with compartments positioned beneath said members at said remote location, said conveyor means operable to move said compartments to a position to receive said pleated sheets forced from said slots by said second means; said flat surface being substantially horizontal, said slots being defined by spaced apart walls extending downwardly from said surface, said spaced apart members are plates which fit between said walls to cooperatively fold said flat sheets into pleated sheets, said plates are movably mounted on said frame in a horizontal direction; said plates have finger-like elements mounted thereto which extend downwardly below said plates and said pleated sheets, said second means being operable to push said pleated sheets with said finger-like elements in said horizontal direction which is perpendicular to said downward direction from said platform into one of said compartments.
 2. A device for folding flat sheets comprising: a frame; a platform connected to said frame having a flat surface for receiving said flat sheets and having parallel slots in said surface; spaced apart members suspendedly mounted on said frame over said platform for reciprocal movement into and out of said slots; first means connected to said members being operable to force said members against said flat sheets and into said slots folding said flat sheets into pleated sheets; and, second means connected to said members being operable to move said members while positioned in said slots parallel along said slots thereby forcing said pleated sheets from said platform to a remote location; a plate holder movably mounted in a vertical direction to said frame, said plate holder having said plates mounted thereon; and wherein: said first means is a cylinder mounted to said frame, said cylinder has a piston rod connected to said holder, said piston rod being extendable to move said plate holder and said plates with respect to said platform; said plates are movably mounted in a horizontal direction to said holder; and, said second means is a second cylinder mounted to said holder, said second cylinder has an extendable piston rod connected to said plates for moving said plates with respect to said holder.
 3. The device of claim 2 and further comprising: a conveyor having a carrying tray movably mounted in a horizontal direction with said carrying tray having compartments to receive said pleated sheets from said slots.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein: said platform has a horizontal surface, and a first wall and a second wall extending upwardly from said horizontal surface, said first wall is arranged at a right angle with respect to said second wall whereby said flat sheets are squaredly stacked when positioned adjacent said first wall and said second wall, said first wall is slotted through which said plates move from said slots to said compartments.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein: said frame has a pair of vertical bearing rods mounted thereto; said holder includes a pair of bearings slidably receiving said rods. 